The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-03

This excludes the air. and the new rootlets form
rapidly. Neither bury the heart nor leave any
part of the root exposed.
Do not be discouraged at the rather slow
growth during the hot days of July and early
August You have only to keep the ground
clean and mellow by frequent hoeings until the
nights grow cooler and longer, and the rains
thoroughly moisten the SOIL About the middle
of August the plants should be thrifty and
spreading, and now require the first operation
which will make them crisp and white or golden
for the table. Gather I'D the stalks and foliage
OF each plant closely III the left hand, and with
the right draw up the earth around it Let no
soil tumble in on the heart to soil or cause de-
cay Press the soil firmly so as to keep all the
leaves in An upright position Then with
hoe draw up more soil, until the
banking process is begun. During September
and October the plants will grow rapidly, and in
order to blanch them they must be earthed up
from time to time, always keeping the stalks
close and compact, with no soil falling in on the
developing part. By the end of October the)
growth is practically made. and only the deepa
green leaves rest on the high embankments
The celery now should be At for use and time
for winter storing IS near In our region it IS not
safe to leave celery unprotected after the 10th of
November, for, although it is a very hardy plant.
it will not endure frost which produces
strone crust of frozen soil I once
lost a fine crop early in November The
frost In one night penetrated the soil deeply,
and when it thawed out the celery never revived.
Never handle celery when 1t is frozen. My
method Of preserving this vegetable for winter
use is simply this: During some mild, clear day
in early November have a trench ten inches
wide dug just about deep as the celery is tall
This trench is dug on warm, dry slope, so that
by no posi- bity can water gather in it. Then
the plants are taken up carefully and stored in
the trench, the roots the bottom, the plants
upright, as they grew. and pressed closely to-
gether, so as to occupy all the space in the exca
walton. The foliage rises a little above the sur
face, and it is earthed up about four inches SO
that water will be shed on either side. Still,
enough of the leaves left in the light
to permit all the breathing necessary
for plants breathe as truly we do. AS
long as the weather keeps mild. this is all that
is necessary; but there is certainty now. A
hard black frost may come any night. + sdvise
that an abundance of leaves straw be gathered
near: When a bleak November day promises q
black frost at night scatter the leaves. ETC.,
thickly over the trenched celery, and do not take
them off until the mercury rises above freezing
point II a warm spell sets in, expose the foliage
to the air again. But watch your treasure vigi-
lautly. Winter is near and soon you must have
enough covering over your trench to keep out
the frost-a foot more of leaves. straw, or
some clean litter. There is nothing better than
leaves. which cost only the gathering. From
now till April, when you want head or more OF
celery, open the trench at the lower end, and
take out the crisp white or golden heads, aud
thank the kindly Providence that planted gar
den as the best place in which to put man and
woman also.